GREELEY — When a nesting pair of bald eagles made their home at Barr Lake State Park, many treated it like the sighting of a new comet.

This was in 1986, and even back then, a bald eagle sighting was a rare treat, if not a once-in-a-lifetime event. It was only the second-known nest on the Front Range, and it gave anyone, thanks to a scope set up by park rangers, the chance to see our nation’s symbol, feathers and all.

These days, if you want to see a bald eagle, the chances are good you’ll see one, and that’s especially true now. The nesting pairs have increased by the dozens, of course, but hundreds of bald eagles now spend their winter in Colorado, and many spots are now known for their roosts.

Those spots, of course, include Barr Lake, which will host its second annual eagle festival Feb. 8.

Other spots include the Poudre Trail and the Poudre Learning Center, where a nesting pair, viewable with a scope, has fledged more than 30 chicks since 1993.

Residents have reported seeing at least one bald eagle at the park. Stan Kerns’ wife, Ardis, of Greeley spotted it one afternoon a couple weeks ago.

“Yapping dogs and gawking walkers didn’t seem to phase him,” Kerns said. “Who knows? Maybe he liked it and will become a frequent visitor.”

Starting with that first nest at Barr Lake, volunteers now monitor more than 20, and the observatory hopes to add some new nests this year. There are now more than 50 known nests statewide.

At an initial training session last week, more than 30 showed up to volunteer. There are veterans, too. One guy in his 20s started when he was in his mother’s belly. He accompanied her to the nest growing up and now will have his own nest.

Barr Lake started with the one nesting pair, but these days you can spot up to 45 in the park. The park has always marketed the eagles, with its “Eagle Express” tram ride and eagle boardwalk that leads to a gazebo with a spotting scope where you can view the active nesting pair.

“Two years ago we had up to 70 eagles,” said park manager Michelle Seubert, “but 45 has been about average this year.”

This leads to reliable viewing areas such as Fossil Creek Reservoir Natural Area, even though the area isn’t far from Interstate 25 and a residential neighborhood.

Fort Collins, in fact, sends volunteers out to the viewing pier at least twice a week with scopes and binoculars to point out roosting sites, where you can spot at least a dozen bald eagles in the late afternoon.

The Poudre Learning Center
is searching for money to install a wireless, remote-control camera on a pole near the nesting tree that would give residents the chance to view the nest on a regular basis.

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